Chelsea have taken full advantage of a favourable knockout draw at the Club World Cup to reach the final, but the bookmakers don’t fancy them against PSG.
Chelsea legend Thiago Silva, who returned to Fluminense this summer after four remarkable years in London, was recognised in heartfelt fashion by his former club following the Club World Cup semi-final clash. The Premier League outfit progressed to the final riding on the brilliance of Joao Pedro who dazzled with a pair of exceptional goals, one in each half, to seal the victory.
Joao Pedro made a "dream" debut for Chelsea as he scored a brace in the club's 2-0 win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday. Pedro issued an apology to his boyhood club but expressed his delight after firing Chelsea into the final in his first game since joining the Blues from Brighton.
Joao Pedro wasted no time making an impact at Chelsea, scoring a stunning brace on his first start in their Club World Cup semi-final clash against Fluminense. The Brazilian forward, who spent his formative football years with the Rio-based club, showed both class and composure with a curling strike from outside the box, and followed up with a superb drive from 18 yards.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca claimed that European clubs came to the Club World Cup after gruelling campaigns compared to South American teams but was left speechless when it was pointed out that the Blues' semi-final opponents, Fluminense, have played more matches than them since the summer of 2024. Chelsea appeared in 63 matches across all competitions before heading to the United States.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Noni Madueke will play in the Club World Cup semi-final against Fluminense despite being linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer. The winger has featured in all of the Blues' Club World Cup matches thus far, including the quarter-final win against Palmeiras, where he came on as a substitute in the second half.
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Fluminense
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